King's Herald - Spring 2016

King’s Herald

A magazine for alumni and friends of King’s University College at Western University Canada

Spring 2016

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Making the King’s experience possible, for every deserving student Donor support has tremendous impact, and provides our students the opportunities, resources, and experiences needed to reach their full potential. From academic scholarships to experiential learning trips, accessibility support to need-based bursaries, your gift makes the King’s experience possible for every deserving student.

Thank you for your generous support.

To make your gift to King’s, please visit www.kings.uwo.ca/give or contact 1-800-265-4406 x4500, foundation@kings.uwo.ca

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Contents Feature Stories

In Memoriam

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26

New Beginnings: Refugee Sponsorship Program

4 King's Connect 6 Meet the Alumni Board 12 Features What’s happening @ King’s

Learn about the alumni who work to keep you connected

The many roads to King’s

King’s University College Office of Alumni Affairs, London, Ontario, Canada The King’s Herald is published semi-annually by the King’s University College Office of Alumni Affairs. We welcome your letters, suggestions or comments about the Association and the College. Please contact the Office of Alumni Affairs: 519-433-3491 | 800-265-4406 x4501 King’s University College, Office of Alumni Affairs, 266 Epworth Avenue, London, ON N6A 2M3 For additional information about the Alumni Association, please visit our website: www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni

Honouring the life of Dr. Dante Lenardon

18 EVENTS 22 Foundation Update 24 MILESTONES & MEMORIAM What’s haapened and what’s coming up

With gratitude to King’s supporters

Opinions expressed in the King’s Herald do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the University’s administration. To contact the editor, phone 519-433-3491 or 800-265-4406 x4501 or e-mail: alumni@kings.uwo.ca Editor: Erin Lawson, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Associate editor: Jennifer Jones Contributing writers/photographers: Jane Antoniak, Tozun Bahcheli, Katrina Clarke, Moe Kablawi, Alicia Mak, Tashi Sherpa, Lisa Michienzi, Steve Grimes, Aaron Brown, Sam Pearson Design: Tim Bugler, King’s University College

Parents: If you are receiving mail for your son or daughter, we would appreciate his or her current address. Please contact the Office of Alumni Affairs.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 3

King’s Connect

The Editor Writes

By Erin Lawson

O

ne of the questions I enjoying asking our alumni is “How did you end up at King’s? ” There are so many answers to this question, including the influence of our convincing enrolment ser vices team when they visit schools around the countr y, recommendations from family and friends who are aware of the benefits of a King’s education, and of course, joining a group of friends at King’s.

Throughout King’s histor y, we have depended on the many students who come to us from across southwestern Ontario to fill our small classes and to let us offer the breadth of unique courses and programs that make King’s stand apart. We have also seen large contingents of students from the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Sudbur y, and growing numbers from Western Canada.

Long before other universities understood the value of international students, King’s was welcoming men and

women from around the world and assisting with their education, language skills and community involvement.

All King’s students have unique paths to 266 Epworth Avenue, and in this edition of the King’s Herald you will read about some of the different journeys people have taken to arrive at King’s. A King’s education creates choices and opportunities for all students, but for some of our students this opportunity can mean so much more.

I have the privilege, each spring and fall, of witnessing our students cross the stage at convocation. I always think of each student’s journey, and the family, friends, faculty and administrators who have made it possible. I also think of the strength and growth of the individual who arrived at King’s with an uncertain future, but an appreciation that education is essential for change and development.

We Want Your Opinion!

Your Alumni Association has developed an alumni sur vey to evaluate our current programs. Let us know how we’re doing, what you like and where we could improve to ser ve you better.

Complete the sur vey when it arrives in your inbox, or go www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni-sur vey/ before May 31, 2016.

You could win a $100 Indigo gift card!

4 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

King’s Connect Faculty News Campus News is compiled from select articles produced by King’s Media and Communications.

To stay current with King’s News, visit www.kings.uwo.ca/news/.

Dr. Cathy Chovaz, Associate Professor of Psychology, presented at the XVII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Istanbul, Turkey. Her presentation highlighted mental health diagnoses of deaf people and urged medical professionals to learn sign language in order to carry out proper diagnoses.

Political Science Professor Dr. Erin Hannah, published two books this academic year: Expert Knowledge in Global Trade, co-edited with James Scott and Silke Trommer was released in September 2015, and NGOs and Global Trade: Non-State Voices in EU Trade Policymaking, was published in Februar y 2016. Both books are available at www.routledge.com.

Political Science Professor, Dr. Andrea Lawlor, and her colleague, Erin Crandall of Acadia University were awarded a SSHRC Insight Development Grant for their project, entitled “ Third Party Election Spending: Weak Policy, Weakened Engagement”.

Associate Professor of Political Science, Dr. Ben Muller, has been named President of the Canada Region International Studies Association.

The Association focuses on young scholars developing their careers both inside and outside the academy.

Associate Professor of Childhood and Social Institutions Dr. Patrick Ryan has been elected President of The Society for the Histor y of Children and Youth (SHCY ) for the 2017-19 term. The Society is the world’s largest organization dedicated to advancing research about childhood, youth cultures, and the experience of young people across diverse times and places.

Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, cross-appointed Professor in Childhood & Social Institutions & Social Work, received a grant from the Department of Justice, Canada to bring together key decisionmakers in the family justice system. She also received a grant from the Law Foundation of Ontario (2015-2017) to explore and evaluate Views of the Child Reports in Ontario. Dr. Birnbaum’s research will focus on whether and how children’s participation can be facilitated during their parents’ separation and divorce.

Dr. Antonio Calcagno, Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, was elected as a Member to the prestigious Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, in recognition of his research as an emerging, young, scholar. The Royal Society of Canada is the highest recognized body of scholars in Arts, Humanities and Sciences in our country.

Dr. Calcagno explores the relation between consciousness and social and political objectivities.

His work focuses on how the mind conditions bonds in groups, communities and states. He is an internationally recognized specialist in the philosophy of Edith Stein and early phenomenology. As a scholar and translator, he helps disseminate the continental tradition of philosophy to English-speaking audiences.

Dr. Calcagno’s growing international reputation is evident through his publications and research presentations in North America, Europe, Chile, Mexico and Australia. Previously, he was the editor of Symposium: Canadian Journal of Continental Philosophy/Revue canadienne de philosophie continentale (2007–2012). In 2009, Dr. Calcagno was nominated for T VO’s Best Lecturer competition. In 2011, Dr. Calcagno was recognized for his classroom work by winning the King’s University College Award for Excellence in Teaching. At King’s, he co-founded the Centre for Advanced Research in European Philosophy (CAREP).

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 5

King’s Connect Meet the Alumni Association Board of Directors Ryan McMurray ’08, Alumni Association President - BA, Political Science and History I became involved with the Alumni Board because I wanted to keep my connection to the university and be a part of its future. My work on the Alumni Board of Directors affords me the opportunity to give back to an institution that has meant so much to me and to be an agent of growth in our community.

Lisa Bitacola ’10, Survey Committee Chair - BA, Honors Specialization Psychology During my four years at King’s, professors and students challenged me to think differently, expand my worldview and take my learning outside of the classroom. Reflecting on my undergraduate experience, I found the desire to give back and reconnect with King’s. This is what led me to become an Alumni Association Board Member. This is my first year on the board, and I look forward to meeting alumni and students.

Daniel Cuevas ’11, Toronto Chapter Chair - BMOS, Finance and Administration I chose to be part of the Alumni Board to give back to a community that gave me so much.

As Chair of the Toronto Alumni Chapter, I will continue building a strong and connected alumni community in Toronto. I look forward to ensuring that future graduates have a support network of seasoned alumni who can provide guidance by sharing their stories and experiences.

Gregory Dack ’98, Ottawa Chapter Chair - BA, History I got involved with the Alumni Association when I was invited to participate in a student/ alumni event in Ottawa. Since then, I have met a number of alumni - some have been new grads who were looking for a friendly connection, others are long established in their careers and are looking to share their experiences, knowledge, and fellowship. Getting involved with the Alumni Association is an amazing opportunity to learn, grow, share, and continue the King’s experience that was so central to shaping my education.

David Ducharme ’64 College Council Representative - BA, History I have been a King’s alumnus for a long time, active in some decades, less-so in others, and in some not at all. However, the sense of connection to King’s and its contribution to my life has remained a constant. In recent years, I have re-discovered the value of alumni connections to the College, to each other, and to the communities in which they live. It has also been an opportunity to reflect on ways alumni networks can support the College and its graduates in meeting the challenges of our still-young 21st Centur y.

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Natalie Mak ’10, Past President - BMOS, French and Organizational and Human Resources King’s is proud to educate compassionate graduates who are prepared to succeed in our multifaceted world. A primary part of the King’s mission is to emphasize values of diversity, respect and academic achievement. Through my involvement with the Alumni Association, I have been able to maintain an engaged role within the community and keep in touch with alumni from around the world, while gaining valuable experiences and networking opportunities.

Andrew Mantulak ’91, School of Social Work Representative - BSW I joined the Board because, as a King’s alumnus and full-time Faculty member, I know the benefits of being part of the King’s community first hand. I am now in a position to contribute to the community, and share with former classmates, as well as my Social Work networks, the benefits of continuing to be part of this great school. The opportunity to learn and network in an environment where ‘ever ybody knows your name’ is truly a privilege for me as a person and an academic.

Mary-Rose O’Connor ’10, Toronto Chapter Representative - BA, History and Geography My time at King’s had such profound impact on my personal development, and getting involved with the Alumni Association has allowed me to stay connected. Working with the Alumni Association is great because we all share the same commitment to build life-long relationships with members of the King’s community. We take pride in our Alma Mater and are passionate about helping others do the same.

Paula Perri ’07, Homecoming Committee Chair - BA, English Language & Literature and Psychology I decided to join the Alumni Association because of my deep fondness for King’s, what it stands for, and the experience I had there while I was a student. It fosters a community environment where I felt the people around me were truly invested in my success and where I made lasting friendships and relationships. To be a part of a group that continues those feelings and traditions past graduation was a no brainer.

Kate Pivrnec ’12, London Chapter Chair - BA, Criminology and Sociology I became involved with the Alumni Association while completing an internship at King’s.

I decided to continue working with the Alumni Board to help bring alumni together and welcome graduating students into the Association. Working with the Association is a great way to keep in touch with other alumni and give back to the King’s community. King’s has always been special to me because it feels like coming home.

Ingrid Schvarczkopf ’12, Awards Committee Chair - BA, English Language & Literature Being involved in the Alumni Association is a way to be involved in the King’s family. I want to give back to the University that has provided me with so many opportunities, and encourage other alumni to feel the same commitment and excitement for King’s. I believe in higher education and lifelong learning, and want to make a difference in the lives of current and future King’s students.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 7

Campus News

Disability Studies @King’s

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our years ago, with tremendous support from the Dean’s and Registrar’s Offices, Professor Pamela Cushing founded the King’s Disabilities Studies (DS) program to work alongside self-advocates and the disability movement to change how the general public understands disability. Historically, such changes have been difficult as the media rarely published stories about or by people with disabilities. What was published tended to be narrowly focused on themes of pity, charity, tragedy, medical matters, and how to ‘fix’ or overcome an impairment. Far from changing how we think, these stories tended to perpetuate a narrow and negative notion that impairments are ‘the main problem’ and that life could not be lived adequately or to the fullest if one was living with a disability. As a result, many people tended to feel uncomfortable, fearful or indifferent toward disabilities.

By Alicia Mak, Communications & Media Relations Intern

Through the DS program at King’s, Professor Cushing and other DS instructors aim to overcome these entrenched and outdated negative associations by teaching students alternative ways to view disability, while thinking about how they can apply positive change in their own life and work settings.

The DS program encourages students to explore the ways in which diverse minds bodies could be welcomed and valued.

The program also looks at best practices for communities to make changes that better serve all abilities. Students often bring innovative examples to class discussions from their own work, volunteer or personal experiences. This program is open to students from all disciplines and offers a wide variety of electives that help broaden people’s views and plant creative seeds in people’s imagination.

Scholarly Monographs The King’s community celebrated five faculty authors and their scholarly monographs at the annual celebration, Faculty Book Launch 2014-2015. Congratulations to:

8 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

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Dr. Rita Gardiner, Women’s Studies

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Dr. Darcy Harris, Thanatology

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Dr. Matthew G. Yeager, Sociology

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Dr. David MacGregor, Sociology

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Dr. Don Kerr, Sociolog y

Campus News FACULTY RETIREMENT

ASk JOe By: Moe Kablawi, Communications & Media Relations Intern

T

his year King’s welcomed a new Dean of Students, Joe Henry.

Joe has done an excellent job in his first year, establishing new initiatives for students such as his monthly Q&A sessions that he calls “Ask Joe”. I sat down with Joe for my own “Ask Joe” session about his time at King’s so far.

What exactly is “Ask Joe” and what inspired you to start it?

“I was trying to intentionally find ways where I could be outside of my office [and connecting with students]. My office is located in Wemple, not in the Student Life Centre, and so my contact based upon proximity to students is fairly limited. I thought, ‘okay, how can I open up a conversation with students?’ At the end of the day it’s really about listening to the students and ultimately, that’s why we’re here. We’re an undergraduate university focused on teaching and research, and at the core of that is listening and learning from our students and trying to make their experience better. That is why I started the Ask Joe sessions.”

What approach are you taking, aside from Ask Joe, to build a relationship with students?

“I’m trying to be pretty authentic...my job is not to be the Dean of Students; my job is to be someone that students feel comfortable around, that they can feel comfortable approaching. I have the Dean of Students’ Office, yes, but it’s just an office. It’s important to break down barriers, or sometimes perceived barriers, between me and them. If they see me as Joe, and if they feel that they can come and talk to me they’re going to feel much more comfortable in this environment.”

What’s your favourite thing about King’s?

“The personal connection that you can have with people is so important. From my perspective, that’s the best part of King’s.

You can walk across the quad and say ‘hi’ to somebody and talk about things. You see them and you know their name, you know they’re not just a student number or a phone or an email.

The connections with leading faculty members and teachers, amazing administrators and staff, and really, students from all over the world, [all of who] in this environment just add to something that is unique.”

Although his love of teaching and research has not wavered over his 40-year career, there is one particular change that stands out for Dr. Bernie Hammond when he reflects back on his time at King’s. “I don’t get mistaken for a student anymore,” he laughs. “ I can’t imagine why that’s changed.”

In actuality, Dr. Hammond has been through many significant changes since starting at King’s in 1975.

Hired as the second full-time faculty member in the Department of Sociology, Dr. Hammond played an important role in building a dynamic, critical and successful Sociology Department that emphasizes concerns with social justice. In 1982, he initiated the Centre for Social Concern, and his work was instrumental in founding the Social Justice and Peace Studies program in 2002.

“I came to King’s because I saw an opportunity to employ my training and experience to promote the cause of social justice,” explains Dr. Hammond. During his tenure he taught courses in the sociology of the family, theory, social problems and deviance, while also researching and teaching within his main areas of interest related to health, illness and health systems.

Reminiscing about the many students who have passed through his classes over the years, Dr. Hammond says, “I hope that all graduates will remember the values upon which King’s is founded and which touched their lives while here. It is my hope that they will allow these values to shape their lives for the better and, consequently, the world in which we all live.”

As Dr. Hammond enters into retirement, he plans to continue to build on relationships that were established during his time at King’s. “Through the Social Justice and Peace Studies program, I engaged in experiential learning overseas with my wonderful students over the past ten years. As a consequence, I have many friends in warm places that generously invite me to spend time with them during Canadian winters. I plan to take them up on their kind invitations as frequently as possible.”

The King’s community wishes Dr. Bernie Hammond all the best in his retirement.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 9

Social (net)work Programming Notes

Comings …

The School is pleased to announce that in addition to its successful BSW program, there are exciting changes coming to the MSW program.

Dr. Bharati Sethi joined the School of Social Work on July 1, 2015. A recipient of the provincial Newcomer Champions Award

by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in 2014, Dr. Sethi’s work has focused on community-based projects with immigrants/refugees, particularly the experience of women.

… and Goings It is with mixed emotions that the School announces that Dr. Dora Tam and Dr. SiuMing Kwok will be leaving us at the end of this academic year. Dora and Siu-Ming have accepted positions with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, Southern Alberta Division in Lethbridge, Alberta. Their positions will begin July 1, 2016.

NE

W

MSW One-Year Direct Practice Program (effective September 2016)

NEW

MSW Two-Year Program (no BSW required) (effective September 2017)

Designed to enhance the knowledge and practice skills of social work professionals, our expanded MSW program includes a greater selection of practice oriented courses and more opportunities to apply theory in real life situations.

Graduation Farewell and Good Luck to our MSW “Accelerators” who completed their programs in December 2015 and graduated in absentia in February 2016.

While we are excited for them as they embark on this next phase of their careers, we are sad for the School and King’s.

The gifts and skills they brought to our programs and the community are so greatly appreciated and will be equally missed.

Back Row: Steven Green, Shelley Reiser-Brown, Victoria Bridgen, Emily Carrothers-Sereda (King’s BSW ’13), Dr. Dora Tam Front Row: Crystal Drouin, Diane Galbraith (King’s BSW ’13), Jennifer Gates, Kimberly Arens, Heather Schmidt (King’s BSW ’05) Missing: Kyra Spencer

H om e c o m

i ng

Hig h l i g h

ts

Social Work had its biggest Homecoming turnout yet on September 26, 2015.

Mark your calendars now for our next Homecoming event on Saturday, October 1, 2016! Anniversary Years will end in “1” or “6”.

Contact Julie.Siverns@kings.uwo.ca if you want to start organizing a dinner or other event.

10 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

Field Practice Education Be a Field Instructor – the School needs YOU!

If you are interested in becoming a field instructor – helping a social work student in their professional journey – let us know.

Contact the Coordinator of Field Education, MaryKay.Arundel@kings.uwo.ca for more information.

Field Instructor Training The School of Social Work, Office of Field Education, is pleased to offer a new Field Education Training Program. Social Work field education research shows that specific training for field instructors significantly improves students’ perceptions of the quality of their practicum education experiences and the quality of the relationships with their field instructors.

To support this important role, we have developed field instruction courses to provide you with the latest information,

tools, and resources relating to social work supervision.

Training modules are available online for completion as well as onsite once per year in the fall. Once you complete the 10 training modules receive a certificate of completion for your professional development portfolio.

To register for online modules, please contact Sarah.Morrison@kings.uwo.ca.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 11

You Are Not

Alone

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ome of us spend most of our lives trying to find our calling.

However, this was not so for recent Masters of Social Work graduate, Abir Al Jamal. Growing up the eldest child of socially active parents in South Lebanon, Abir and her siblings learned to advocate for others early on. Abir states,“We were raised to highly value human rights, love the environment, and to be humane to stray animals – we used to bring little kittens from the street into our home and care for them. My upbringing with these values, in a country that witnessed war for so long, has impacted the person I have become.” Abir’s father worked for an international aid organization, assisting and protecting civilians in areas of armed conflict. “Living in this family made me aware of the brutality of war, and the human rights violations that war can cause people. I have grown up with a profound understanding of the need to preserve human rights, and the need to pursue social justice for all.”

At the age of seventeen, when most young people are blissfully unaware of the horrors of war and are beginning to think about their futures, Abir joined the Red Cross as a paramedic in South Lebanon and Beirut. As her career with the Red Cross developed, Abir soon found herself on the executive committee responsible for establishing a blood bank to serve the city and surrounding area. Abir received her Social Work degree from Beirut University College in 1990, and wasted no time in helping those around

her. “I worked with various national and international organizations in Beirut and South Lebanon, mostly with underprivileged populations, internally displaced people, and Palestinian refugees in Beirut camps. I also continued my volunteer work with the Red Cross. The people I worked with revealed resiliency and persistence to overcome the injustices of social issues that were imposed on them from the context of structural barriers in a country suffering war and offering limited open services.”

Practicing social work in a country plagued by war presented many professional challenges for Abir. “In countries of peace people fall through the cracks. In countries of war there are no cracks; it is more like an earth quake, and our work as social workers is to assist people to mend and build solid stones to stand on.” Despite the challenges she faced, Abir found fulfillment in her work.

“I worked with people to locate needed services, helped them attain their goals, and advocated on their behalf for their basic rights. My work has given me the maturity to understand and recognize that social issues are mainly created by outside circumstances that burden people and make them suffer. The uniqueness of the lived experiences of the people I have worked with demonstrated the resiliency of people pursuing their goals.”

A fateful visit to family members in Canada five years ago presented an opportunity for Abir, and she decided to stay, soon enrolling at King’s. “I was accepted as a special student and took courses from year one to year four so my degree would be equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work degree. In 2015, I was accepted to the Master’s program, and now I have my Master’s degree. I can say, in these two years I have acquired tremendous knowledge that enriched my international education and experience.” Navigating the education system in a foreign country was a new challenge for Abir, but she was not alone.

“I have had a great support from King’s Social Work staff and professors who believed in my abilities and experience, and they kept me determined to achieve my goals.”

Presently, Abir’s work continues to build on her Master’s studies, researching and offering clinical services to new Canadian families experiencing domestic violence. “My passion to work with newcomers has always been there, and having the opportunity to do my research proposal on family violence among newcomer populations gave me the direction for the next step in my career.”

As a newcomer herself, Abir has some personal insight for anyone starting life over in a new place. “Simply believe in yourself and never give up, no matter what challenges you face as a newcomer. Being in Canada is an opportunity in itself to start a life. Be positive, give yourself time to settle and learn how to navigate the system. Find out what you really want, and pursue your dreams . . . And remember that you are never alone.”

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A Voice for First Nations Students

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t is not uncommon to hear stories about students who enrolled at King’s because their brother or sister, parents or even grandparents attended the College. There are many students with strong roots at King’s, and Alana Pawley is no exception. The value of post-secondary education was instilled in Alana from a young age. King’s and Western became a home away from home as she spent countless hours on campus while her mother, April Jones, completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree from King’s in 2003.

Choosing to go to King’s was a homecoming of sorts for Alana, and not one that she takes for granted. As an Ojibway from Neyaashiinigmiing, also known as the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation or Cape Croker, Alana knows that she has been afforded opportunities that may not be easily accessible for others in her community.

For those living in traditional territories, like the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, access to secondary school may require more than an hour bus ride to and from school. Transitioning from traditional teachings and supports at the elementary school level, to a public or Catholic high school in a new community can cause culture shock for First Nations youth.

Growing up in London, Ontario, Alana attended Saunders Secondary School, one of only a few high schools that provided First Nations programming. Through her experience, Alana found that courses are not always taught by members of First Nations communities, and therefore, cannot truly provide an authentic learning experience.

Now completing her third year in Social Justice and Peace Studies (King’s) and Global Development (Huron), Alana is raising awareness about the challenges that First Nations students face when entering university, and is striving to make changes to help ensure that students successfully transition from high school into their post-secondary education.

Working with Joe Henry, Dean of Students, Alana is helping to establish First Nations focus groups that will look at ways to best serve this student population, and build stronger connections between indigenous and non-indigenous members of the King’s community.

King’s is actively seeking partnerships with surrounding indigenous communities, building relationships that will help create a strong future for indigenous students. The developing connection between King’s and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation became more broadly known to the community following a King’s Hour lecture featuring Chief Leslee White-Eye in January 2016.

As a fellow Ojibway, Alana was invited to introduce Chief White-Eye, setting the tone for an emotionally powerful talk that explored the opportunities to educate future leaders by providing access to accurate historical information and encouraging dialogue. The event was well attended by students, faculty, staff and alumni.

As the conversations between King’s and local First Nation communities continues, Alana hopes to see further development of First Nations courses, as well as the inclusion of accurate First Nations facts and history in Canadian curriculum. To this end, she hopes to see more representation of indigenous educators to ensure that traditions are respected and prejudices are dispelled. These are important conversations and King’s is fortunate to have such strong student representation participating in the dialogue.

Preparing to enter her fourth year at King’s, Alana hopes to become the First Nations student representative on the King’s University College Students’ Council, which would be a new position at King’s. In this role, Alana would like to create more inclusive spaces on campus where indigenous students feel welcome, and dialogue is encouraged. She also hopes to coordinate traditional events for First Nations students, such as potluck meals.

With a world of possibilities before her, Alana has plans to further her studies at the Master’s level. She has interests in conflict resolution and aboriginal law, but is still considering her options. In the meantime, she continues to make her mark at King’s, as she works with administration, faculty and student organizations to ensure that First Nations students have the resources and support they need to successfully earn their degree.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 13

New Beginnings: Refugee Sponsorship Program

By Moe Kablawi, Communications & Media Relations Intern

T

he world, particularly the Middle East, has been subject to a growing refugee crisis in recent years. In the fall of 2014, King’s University College’s Campus Ministry became increasingly aware of refugees fleeing the Middle East, amongst other regions in the world. The Canadian Government has worked extensively to help aid refugees in escaping the unsafe conditions in their home countries by bringing them to Canada to start a new life. Father Michael Béchard, Director of King’s Campus Ministry, approached the Campus Ministry team with the idea to start a Refugee Sponsorship Program as a way for King’s to expand their borders to include more cultures in their intimate community.

This is not the first time Father Béchard and his team have worked to actively interact with different cultural and religious groups. Father Michael, who also acts as the Chair for the Centre for Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Learning, dedicates part of his summer to working with the isolated First Nations communities of Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel in Saskatchewan. He takes with him interested students, a group comprised mostly of those studying Social Work, Social Justice and Peace, and Catholic Studies for Teachers.

Father Béchard recollects an encounter he had while working with First Nations communities near Lake Athabasca.

A young woman who had previously worked with Campus Ministry, and had returned to work with the team again, had a tattoo on her leg of a starfish, which piqued Father Béchard’s interest.

“She said, ‘There’s a story I read, about a little boy walking up and down a beach beside the ocean. The winds and the water had brought in thousands and thousands of starfish. The little boy was going along and he was tossing them back in the water one at a time. He was stopped by an old man who said, ‘You’re

“I know we can’t save the world, but we can save one.” wasting your time son, there’s nothing you can do for all these starfish.’ And the little boy looked up at the old man and said, ‘You’re right, but for this one,’ and he threw it back in the water, ‘I can do something.’”

The tattoo served as a reminder to the young woman that her efforts were not going unnoticed and that she was making a difference. The tattoo also served as motivation for Father Michael to respond to what he thought was God’s call.

The Refugee Sponsorship Program began with the help of the Canadian Government in a cycled program that included six months of expenses covered by the government, followed by the College covering the next six months of expenses. King’s would also cover travel costs and medical clearances, amongst other things. With the recent change in power, the government will now assume more of these costs.

14 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

Of course nothing comes easy and that includes making the decision and statement to be involved in a global crisis. Although Father Michael and Dr. David Sylvester, Principal, were in agreement to try and make a difference, the program faced adversity along the way. Some were reluctant to support the cause because of religiosity and/or political reasons.

But since the program has taken shape the major challenges have shifted to assimilating the refugees into the new culture; including employment, language, and behavioural norms.

“Along the way, I recognized how naive I was. You know, folks that have come to us have experienced more trauma in the last five years than I’ll ever know in a lifetime. And I think I was really, woefully ill-prepared for what those responsibilities would entail. It’s helped me to kind of hone some of my own skills, but it’s also invited me to expand the size of my heart; because you need to work through a lot of things together. And it’s not always easy. There has been a lot of laughter, but there have also been a lot of tears. There have been a few good fights along the way, but it’s coming along.”

The King’s and London communities have worked together to tackle these challenges by hosting fundraising events, and integrating the refugees into both communities. The Chamber Choir at King’s has hosted concerts for the past few years, with all proceeds raised going to the Refugee Sponsorship Program. Parish collections have also been helpful in raising funds, along with community members who have donated their time and money to the refugees.

In turn, the refugees have donated

Saifan Istefan, Talar Donian, and their son, Zenos, Syrian refugees sponsored by King’s, received help from King’s Mustang football players and Campus Ministry when they moved from campus housing to their own apartment.

their time to the community. Refugees have taken part in helping the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre, Social Justice and Peace Initiatives at King’s, the Parish Choir at King’s, learning English with CultureWorks, and finding part-time employment.

To date, the Refugee Sponsorship Program has helped seven people; including three young individuals who were welcomed to King’s after being displaced as a result of the Rwandan genocide. A young man from Iraq arrived after fleeing the war, and most recently the program assisted a family of three to travel to London from Syria. Through a cash donation, the program was able to financially support another Syrian family, and is focusing on its next project of reuniting a Syrian woman’s two brothers, two sisters, a brother-in-law, nephew, mother and father. The extended family

is set to arrive in London within the next few months. This will double the Refugee Sponsorship Program’s tally of people helped from seven to 15.

Father Michael understands the delicate nature of the global refugee crisis and is aware it won’t be easy to fix. However, with the King’s Refugee Sponsorship Program, he hopes to affect as many refugees as possible. Like the little boy and the starfish, the program cannot help every refugee but it can make a difference and inspire others.

“It’s been good. I think the thing that’s interesting about the Refugee Sponsorship Program at King’s is that it’s not very flashy. There’s no great banners, no large mail outs, there’s no brochures that are being thrown around, it’s not a recruitment initiative. It’s simply the College community coming

together to do what is right, and to save a life. Because of the generosity of the community, we’ve been able to change the lives, so far, of seven people in a very concrete way. And that will change lives for generations to come. I’m very hopeful, but I’m also very, very grateful.”

For more information about the Refugee Sponsorship Program, please contact Campus Ministry at 519-963-1477 or campusministry@kings.uwo.ca Donations in support of refugees are gratefully accepted through Campus Ministry or online at www.kings.uwo.ca/refugeesponsorship-program/

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 15

university, but if I would be able to receive financial aid to proceed with my studies. As an international student, there was no way for me to take loans from either the Canadian or Nepali government, and my parents could not afford tuition.

After being lucky enough to access education in Nepal, and then to go on to complete my high school education at one of the most recognized schools in Canada, I could not ask for more.

King’s University College was one of the universities on my list. I was blown away when they understood my situation and provided me with a full scholarship for my four years of study. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate King’s for giving me the opportunity to make my dream come true.

I am thankful to Dr. Sylvester for always stopping by to make sure I was doing well, to Reverend Michael Bechard and Campus Ministry for covering the cost of my books and to Erin Lawson for always being there to help me out.

King’s not only provided me with a great learning environment, but also never failed to provide me with the support I needed along the way. Through King’s, I have learned that there is so much to life and one should not be restricted from learning and discovering as much as they want. King’s has made me a better, stronger and more confident person.

Journey from Nepal

By: Tashi Sherpa ‘15 Hon BA Criminology & Sociology

N

epal is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with 42% of its population living below the poverty line. There is little or no infrastructure in remote regions, and people in rural areas still live an ancient lifestyle without roads, electricity, telephones, sanitation, running water, hospitals or schools.

Poverty, mass illiteracy, ignorance and conservatism cause a majority of Nepali children to be deprived of their basic rights to education.

I am from a small village called Tatopani, which is situated in the northern part of Nepal. Access to education and proper health care facilities are some of the many things that we, the people of Himalaya, can only dream of. I was among the lucky ones to be chosen to attend Nepal Shree Mangal Dvip School (SMD) in the capital city of Kathmandu. Founded in 1987 by Thrangu Rinpoche, SMD strives to provide adequate education to Himalayan children, with the vision of providing students with tools and skills that they can use to lift themselves out of poverty.

Not only was I fortunate to attend SMD, but after completing my schooling, I had the opportunity to study abroad with a full scholarship to attend Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario.

The first few months at Appleby were challenging for me, but as time went by I learned to adapt to this new culture.

Like most of my Appleby classmates, when I finished high school, I applied to numerous undergraduate programs. My biggest worry at that time was not whether I’d be accepted to 16 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

My professors at King’s were amazing. With small class sizes, it was easy to approach the professors and the teaching assistants. One of my all-time favorite professors at King’s is Dr. Skinner. He taught Introduction to Psychology in my second year and his enthusiasm for the course material and his view on life is something that I admire.

The situation in Nepal right now is terrible. The massive earthquake that occurred last April and the numerous tremors that the Nepalese are still experiencing have shaken the community. It’s emotionally, physically and financially challenging for people back home to move on. Fortunately, my parents were at the city at that time of the earthquake, so they were rescued safely and provided with the help that they needed. However, my entire village has been destroyed by landslides that occurred after the earthquake. My house in the village is no longer standing and a lot of our farms have been washed out. There is little or no help provided to people in the remote areas of Nepal by the government. It is sad to think about.

SMD has practiced earthquake drills for so long, and was better prepared than the rural communities, but the students were still in shock when the event took place. The buildings are still standing and the school has provided comfort to the students and neighbours.

I have been blessed with many opportunities, for which I am forever grateful. The amazing people who have provided me with constant guidance and support are the reason I am where I am today. My plan for next couple of years is to go back to school for a Master’s program and learn more about Social Work in Canada. Again, finances continue to be a big worry for me, so I am working right now to afford to go back to school. In the future, I want to return to Nepal and share the knowledge and experiences that I was able to obtain here in Canada with the people in my community.

Welcoming a new Generation of Refugees

By: Dr. Tozun Bahcheli, Professor Emeritus

Brothers Tozun Bahcheli and Tumer Bahcheli ’78

I

t is always painful to watch as a humanitarian crisis unfolds, and this has been especially true concerning the plight of the refugees from Syria, as well as numerous other countries. Men, women, and children have been experiencing the violence and brutality of civil war with no hope of a resolution in sight. It is little wonder that millions of such desperate people have sought refuge in various countries that would accept them. That Canada has joined numerous other countries to open its door to thousands of such migrants is very much in character. We are a nation of immigrants that welcomed refugees from many of the world’s war zones throughout our history. The families of countless Canadians arrived in this country as refugees and migrants. As such, they can relate to the misfortunes of Syrians and others caught up in war, and the challenges that they face as immigrants in a new society.

In keeping with this spirit, the King’s community rose to the occasion by sponsoring a family who fled war-torn Iraq to find refuge in Syria, only to be forced to escape the war there too.

Among those who have provided many forms of support to help the family settle in their new life are brothers Tumer and Tozun Bahcheli, who made a generous financial contribution to King’s to help support them. Until his retirement in July 2015, Tozun was a long-time member of the King’s faculty.

Tumer’s association with King’s goes back to the 1970s, when he took courses at the College while studying for an Economics degree.

The Bahcheli family can empathize with the refugee predicament because they too fled a civil war for the safety

of Canada. The Cyprus conflict, which broke out in the early 1960s, pitted the island’s two dominant communities against each other. It is well-known to an older generation of Canadians, as Canada contributed one of the largest contingents of peace-keepers there, in a deployment that lasted over 30 years. Tozun was the first to arrive in Canada, as an undergraduate at Western in 1963, and was joined by the rest of the family in London, Ontario in 1966.

Millions of Canadians who have settled in the country will attest to the fact that the immigrant experience is far from easy, and this was similarly true for the Bahcheli family.

Finding suitable employment proved very difficult. And with very few Turkish speakers in London at that time, there were few opportunities for social interaction and no supportive kin and community. So disheartened was father Bahcheli that he decided to return to Cyprus to re-start the business that he had liquidated. However, within a year or so, he decided to return to London and give immigrant life another chance.

No one in the family has looked back since then. The support and opportunities that Canada has provided have made the immigrant experience a success for all members of the family.

As grateful and fortunate members of this society, they are pleased to join thousands of Canadians to welcome and support a new generation of immigrants whose lives have been blighted by violent conflicts in their homeland.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 17

Events Recap

-Homecoming

Homecoming 2015 took place over September 25 - 26, and welcomed alumni, donors and friends from across the globe back to King’s. Anniversaries and reunions were celebrated across campus over the course of the weekend as King’s celebrated its 60th anniversary. Those who attended the football game, in which Western defeated Carleton 14 – 70, enjoyed an affiliate reunion as well, as Huron, Brescia and King’s alumni shared the field-level tent for the first time.

-Stratford Festival Trip

On Saturday, September 19, alumni and friends were treated to lunch and a lecture by King’s professors Dr. Ian Rae and Dr. Paul Werstine, before catching a matinee performance of Hamlet. Alumni of all ages came out to see two of their favourite professors speak, including Lorna Rourke and Lorraine Carter, both ’79 grads, and former students of Dr. Werstine.

18 • King’s Herald • Spring 2016

- 20th Annual King’s Golf Classic

On Monday, September 14, alumni and friends participated in the 20th annual King’s Golf Classic at Highland Country Club.

Players were in for a treat, as the course was specially groomed for a PGA event taking place the next day. The event was a tremendous success, raising over $52,000 in support of King’s University College Foundation.

-Life After King’s in Ottawa

On October 29, a group of History and Political Science students travelled to Ottawa to meet with alumni who live and work in the city. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada,The Honourable Sheila Copps ’74 was the keynote speaker.

Ms. Copps is known as one of Canada’s foremost female politicians and has been a prominent figure in Canadian public life for almost 35 years. All alumni spoke about their paths from King’s to Ottawa. Students and alumni had the opportunity for informal mingling at Mill Street at the end of the evening.

Art Benefit A few years ago, a group of alumni who had participated in debating while attending King’s decided to raise funds in support of current student debaters. Since then, James Sbrolla ’90 and Ann Tavares ’92, open their home every two years for an art fundraiser, bringing artists from Alton Mill and their work together with King’s alumni and friends. Since the inception of the event, debating is once again thriving at King’s, and the interest and support from alumni has been a real boost for our students. Thank you to all who attended on November 12, donated auction items, purchased art and contributed a percent of their work. A special thanks to James and Ann for their enthusiasm and generosity.

<Giving Tuesday

On Tuesday, December 1, King’s brought Giving Tuesday to campus once again. To celebrate the national day of giving, and to promote philanthropy in the King’s community, Alumni and Foundation staff served coffee and cake pops in the Darryl J. King Student Life Centre, while providing awareness to the fundraising initiatives at King’s. Students learned first-hand about the generous contributions of those who came before them, and how it has enhanced their educational experience at King’s. Approximately $2000 was raised for King’s on Giving Tuesday, primarily through online donations.

-The King’s Players Presents: The 25th Annual Putnam County

Spelling Bee Thursday, January 21 was the opening night of the King’s Players production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in the Peter and Joanne Kenny Theatre. The production was very well done, and the Alumni Association was pleased to host the opening night reception in the Garron Family Lounge for cast, crew and audience members alike.

-Toronto Merry Hours

On May 7, London and area alumni tested their problem-solving abilities at London Mystery Escape Rooms. Three groups of alumni all successfully escaped from their respective rooms, proving the true value of a liberal arts education once and for all!

-Evening Breakfast

The King’s University College Alumni Association was pleased to offer a Pancake Study Break in support of students studying for exams on Wednesday, December 16 at 10:00 p.m. More than 200 grateful students enjoyed pancakes, bacon, fruit, muffins, and lots of coffee.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 19

<Life After King’s Alumni Panel Events

The Alumni Association, together with Career Services at King’s, have hosted 5 career focussed events for students on campus in the 2015/16 academic year. The majority of these have been in the form of alumni panel discussions featuring alumni who work in various fields. Thank you to those alumni who have volunteered their time to share their wisdom and experiences with current King’s students, including:

• Johnny Fansher ‘90 • Jen Pastorius ‘13 • Amy Grant ‘05 • David Thuss ‘05 • Andrew Jardine ‘06 • Shannon Fox ‘11 • James Sbrolla ‘90 • Jeff Wellwood ‘02 • Jen Carter ‘14

30-01 SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

20 • King’s Herald • Spring 2016

• Cheryl Stone’08 • Jeff Trang ‘13 • Tom Andreoli ‘11 • Michelle Williams ‘09 • Jason Peetsma ‘01 • Joe MacDonald ‘80 • Barshan Quadry ‘12 • Linda Tran ‘09

Start planning your King’s Homecoming 2016 now! Alumni with graduation years ending in 6 and 1 have a special incentive to attend, as they will be celebrating anniversaries! We have a full schedule of events planned, including pub receptions, an Alumni Awards Brunch, and seats at the Homecoming football game against Laurier. Stay tuned for more details, and see you at Homecoming!.

www.kings.uwo.ca/homecoming/

Upcoming Alumni Events 09 JUNE

Hamilton Chapter History Lesson: 100 years since the Battle of the Somme Thursday, June 9, 7:00 p.m.

Hamilton area alumni will be treated to a History lesson by King’s Professor Graham Broad in honour of the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, which was one of the largest battles of World War I, and one of the bloodiest in military history. More details to come, contact alumni@kings.uwo.ca

As You Like It at the Stratford Festival Sunday, September 25, 11:00 a.m.

Save the date for the Alumni Association’s eighth annual Stratford Festival event. This year’s play is an interactive performance, meaning you could be invited to join on stage! Prior to the play, guests will be treated to a catered lunch and insightful lectures

by King’s professors Ian Rae and Paul Werstine ‘70. Tickets are $125 and will sell out quickly, so reserve yours soon!

25 SEPTEMBER

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Do you know an outstanding King’s graduate?

For more information about the nomination and selection process, please visit www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni or call the Office of Alumni Affairs at 519-433-3491 x4502 or 1-800-265-4406 x4502 Nominations close on Friday, June 10, 2016

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 21

Donor Listings

Thank you

We would like to thank the individuals, organizations and foundations who have helpd us complete the Student Life Campaign .

Tina Abarquez '90 Antony D. Abbott & Joyce Abbott Susan Ackland Sean P. Adams '00 Sterling Adams '93 Paul A. Agro '59 & Carol Agro Vincent J. Agro '62, Agro Insurance Inc. Joan Aldis James C. Alfano '72 Velda A. Ambrose '01 Jane Antoniak ARAMARK Canada Ltd. Raymond Armstrong & Joëlle A. Armstrong Arnsby Property Management Ltd. Tim Ayiotis Tozun Bahcheli & Beth Davidson Stephanie D. Bangarth '95 Paul E. Barbisan '87 Anthony J. Barone & Norma Barone Roderick Beaujot & Elizabeth Beaujot Amanda J. Bell '89 Laura Béres Andrea Bezaire '02 & Derek Bezaire Alexander Bishop '07 & Paul Ray Lisa Bitacola '10 Douglas D. Blackwell '70 & Jane Blackwell Carolyn M. Boerboom '82 & Frank Boerboom Michael J. Bonomi '82 Robert C. Borland '01 Stefan P. Bortolussi '98 & Rena D. Pittao '96 Lorraine E. Boutette '91 Hedi Boyson Shirley Bratscher David Breech & Joan Breech Mary Briglia Steve Brisebois Jean Brown Daniel J. Bunning '65 William Burns & Sharon Burns Gerard T. Byrne '80 & Kathy Skerl Mary T. Cahalan '81 J. Claire Callaghan '71 John J. Callaghan '67 & Linda Callaghan Sauro Camiletti Karen H. Campbell '88 Anthony L. Capitano & Dorothy Capitano Jane M. Carere '77 James J. Carey '69 Doris Casaubon Jessica C. Cecchetto '05 Robert Cecil Danny Chang Brian Chapman Gregory F. Child '90 Wayne A. Chorney '83, Chorney Law Professional Corporation Ann Clark Katrina M. Clarke '06 & Jason Clarke 22 • King’s Herald • Spring 2016

John S. Clouston & Perry Clouston Coldstream Quaker Meeting Ruth Compton Brouwer Sheila M. Copps '74 & Rick Marrero Michelle Corbett '84 Sandra L. Coulson '81 Rose M. Cove '87 Lynne M. Cram J. Basil Crean & Vivienne Crean Robin Creeden '62 & Diane Tait Debbie Edwards & Rick Csiernik Violet Csiernik CultureWorks Neisha Cushing '03 & Steve Mace Joseph M. Czikk '73 & Gerarda S. Czikk '73 David Dal Bello Claude F. Damiani '77 Robert M. Daudlin '61 Sergio O. de Sousa '66 & Sandy de Sousa Eileen Dobell '96 Natalie Dowhanick '10 Paul Downs & Kathy Downs Francis J. Doyle '07 & Janine Doyle Elizabeth A. Drewlo '88 C. Kylene Dube '83 Paul M. Dub '94, Dubwear Clothing Company David J. Ducharme '64 & Lynda Ducharme Earl Duckworth & Denise Duckworth Des Dutrizac '69 & Martha Dutrizac Samira El-Hindi & Osman El-Hindi Phyllis Fidler '04 David Finch '90 Ford Keast LLP Frank Franciosa '00 Ruth Fric & Lawrence Fric James A. Frumau '61 Nicole Furnival & Cory Bowman John G. Gallagher '74 Benj Gallander Fred Galloway & Bev Galloway Rosanne Gambrill '90 Elias Gammal & Ellen Gammal Gerald Garber Ryan M. Gauss '08 & Haley Gauss Darryl J. Gilpin W.L. Girvin & Helen Miller Harvey Gleason & Mary Lou Gleason Leslie A. Gloor Duncan '96 Martha Gordon Dorinda Greenway & Robert Greenway Shelly L. Guerin '98 Robert Gunn Pat Haarsma John E. Hall '59 Linda P. Hallinan '76 Daniel Hambly & Connie Hambly J. D. Han & Hae Ryun Park Regina Hanley

Judy L. Hannivan '81 & John Hannivan Glenn J. Hardman & Carol Hardman K. David Harrison & Elizabeth Harrison Karen R. Hartwig-Rasula '81 & Nick Rasula Gaie Haydon Gerard Heggarty & Mary Ann Heggarty '73 John Heng Aurelia Hernandez Darla M. Hexter '84 Katherine M. Hill '78 Joseph Hoffer David W. Holland '72 & Gwen Holland Ronald R. Holmberg '61 Dick Hoos & Sharon Hoos Marie R. Horman '82 & Barry Horman Trevor D. Hunter '92 Geoff Hutton '66 & Margaret Hutton IBM Canada Limited Reverend Edward J. R. Jackman, Jackman Foundation Rose Marie Jaco Erma Jacob '94 & Family Andrew Jardine '06 & Erin Jardine John W. Jarrell & Mary Margaret Jarrell Jennifer M. Jones '02 Tom Jory '87 & Margo Jory Stratis Katsiris & Family Wanda J. Keeling-Walter '87 & Dennis Walter John C. Kennedy '65, Terri Kennedy & Family Tara R. Kenney '05 & Darrell Black James A. Ketzler '77 Ina C. Kevins '81 William J. Kienapple '59 & Mary Kienapple King's University College Alumni Association King's University College Students' Council Carol A. Knowles '92 Dianne E. Konings '91 Al Koop & Helen Koop Catherine M. Kovacs '83 & Les Kovacs Andre K. Kozak '89 Kevin Kozak & Laurie Kozak KPMG Foundation Arthur Labatt & Sonia Labatt Barbara H. Laing-Hiseler '77 Eugene P. LaRocque Michael J. Lawless '02 Erin Lawson & Ted Lawson John Leitch Estate of Dante Lenardon George J. Leon '65 Terry Leon '72 & Mari Jo Leon '72 Lois A. Lindsay '84 & Kevin Lindsay Gary A. Long '95 William Long & Patricia Long In Honour of Chuck & Kay Lyons from their 7 Children and Families Vincent A. MacDonald & Victoria Hladay-MacDonald

David A. MacKenzie '83 & Kelly MacKenzie Steven G. MacKinnon '79 Jennifer A. MacRae '96 & Mathew Hoy Tom Malleson Elly Mancinelli Paul Mansell & Mary Lynn Mansell Gerald N. Masi '60 Daniel L. McCowell '81 Maria McCracken Denson McDonald '66 Tom McGrenere '60 Caroline J. McLeish '94 Irene McMahon Trish McMahon Fred Meek Steven R. Meston '86 Alayne Metrick '73 & Ronald J. Metrick James A. Metson '85 Michael Albert Garron Foundation Joseph Michalski Barbara A. Miller '86 Helen Miller George M. Moore '65 & Joan Moore John E. Moore '97 Maureen Moore Phillip J. Mueller & Elizabeth Anne Mueller Michael D. Muirhead '75 Timothy P. Murray '88 & Kimberly A. Curran '89 Marc A. Nadeau '90 Rick Naranowicz & June Naranowicz John C. Nash '58 & Margi Nash Linda J. Neal '99 Scott F. Newby '88 & Jennifer Newby '87 Jacquetta Newman Stephanie Nguyen '14 Sherry L. Nowlan '84 Debbie O'Brien Patrick W. O'Brien '71 & Evelyn O'Brien Michael F. O'Hare '80 & Rosemary O'Hare '81 Paul O'Leary & Pia O'Leary Michael S. O'Neil '86 & Jill M. O'Neil '84 Mariko Obokata Marjorie Paisley Dianne P. Paquette '93 & Pierre Paquette Catherine J. Park '76 Gary Paterson & Elizabeth Paterson Brian Patton & Teresa Hubel Philip J. Payne '68 & Barbara A. Payne Samantha L. Pearson '07 & Donald Gorassini Tom Peirce '82 & Anne Marie Peirce '84 Dennis Pellarin '80 Perkins+Will Ontario Corporation

Lawrence G. Peters '67 & Olga Peters Patrick J. Phelan '78 & Family Rena D. Pittao '96 & Stefan P. Bortolussi '98 Frank Prato & Dianne Prato Thérèse Quigley Peter W. Rebek '71 & Gail A. Biocchi Jennifer L. Reed '88 Jeff Regan Kathryn Reid & Wayne Reid Maureen Reid Simone Gibson Reynolds '81 Todd Roberts Dino N. Rocca '83 & Mary J. Rocca '84 Michael Rolland '79 Christopher Roney Michael D. Ruf '76 & Joan A. Ruf '77 Michael Rupar '80 & Jane Rupar Russell Investments Canada Limited Salesforce.com Foundation Nick Salomone '88 Ingrid Sauve Brian Saxe & Marilyn Saxe James J. Sbrolla '90 & Ann M. Tavares '91 David Scandiffio James A. Scarfone '70 Kelly Schaus & Todd Schaus Frank T. Schlichtherle '62 Mark J. Scott '85 & Janice Scott Serge A. Scrafield '70 & Florence Scrafield Brent Shea '80 & Becky Shea '79 Richard Shelson '76 Silvercrest Foundation Ltd Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of London Foundation Nicholas Skinner & Wendy Skinner Estate of Donald James Smith Gordon Smith '67 & Janet Smith Jennifer R. Smith-Mantel '00 Andy Spriet & Helen Spriet St. Peter's Seminary Katharine Stephenson & Glen Stephenson Stinson Security Services Ian B. Sullivan '70 & Paula J. Young Paul Sullivan & Connie Sullivan Kevin Switzer & Brenda Switzer David Sylvester & Allyson Larkin June A. Sylvester '78 Jim (Bud) Tangney '62 Ann M. Tavares '91 & James J. Sbrolla '90 The CBO Paul D. Thompson '67 & Yvonne Thompson Edward C. Thorn '58 & Mary Thorn Michael A. Tibensky '68 & Linda Tibensky Danielle Van de Ven '09 & Michael P. Van de Ven '11

Julius J. Varga '59 & Louise Varga Doreen Vautour '05 Chris Viger Frances Vitali '91 Sharon A. Vitali '80 Judith Walker Alana R. Walker Carpenter '96 & Kevin B. Carpenter Linda M. Walters '76 Mary Carol Watters Stuart C. Watts '08 Bruce A. Weber '65 Linda Weber J. R. Weekes & Irene Weekes Jeffrey D. Wellwood '02 & Siobhann Wellwood Paul Werstine '70 Beryl C. Whitham '85 Estate of Earl G. Williams Colleen A. Williams '77 & Michael L. Williams Richard Williams & Sharon Williams Matthew J. Wilson '06 & Kathryn Graham Karl P. Wysotski '64 & Phyllis Wysotski Roger D. Yachetti '61 & Cleda Yachetti Paul M. D. Ziriada '00 James C. Zucchero '82 & Holly Watson Thank you to all donors who wish to remain anonymous.

In Honour of

Margherita Lawlor Bob Paterson & Angela Paterson John Snyder & Mary Snyder

In Memory of

Jeremy Bowley Jeffrey Cormier Ken Gordon Jacques Goutor Ryan Kirk Dante Lenardon William McKercher Jackie Ross Mary Smith Barbara Spruce Peter Tam Catherine Turner

The donor listing acknowledges contributions to King’s University College for the period of January 1-December 31, 2015.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, errors and omissions may occur. Please accept our apologies and bring any corrections to the attention of King’s University College Foundation at 519-433-3491 x4500 or 1-800-265-4406 x4500.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 23

Milestones Share your latest milestones (job, marriage, birth announcements, etc.) in the next issue of the King’s Herald by emailing your news to alumni@kings.uwo.ca. Photos are welcome, space permitting.

Lindsey Hann ‘85 has been married to Michael Hugh for 25 years. She earned an MSW at the University of Toronto in 1989, and has been the working in mental health at the Brampton Civic Hospital for 26 years. She is proud to report that their 23-year-old son is in his first year of medicine at McMaster University and their 20-year-old daughter is in her 3rd year of the BSW program at McMaster University.

-

Kristen Hummel (nee Butler) ‘00 welcomed his third child on May 2, 2015, to the delight of his daughter Annabelle, who is pleased to be upgraded to the position of big sister.

Rob Deman ‘05 received London’s prestigious Brickenden Awards for outstanding male lead actor and outstanding set design for By the Book Theatre’s production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. King’s Professor Andre Cormier was also involved with the production, which took home a total of six awards, including outstanding drama.

<Peter Fragiskatos ‘04 (centre) and

Ryan Gauss ’08 (left) recently visited King’s in their new roles with the Canadian government. Peter, former part-time faculty member (Politics) was elected Member of Parliament for London North Centre in the 2015 federal election, and Ryan is working as his Legislative Assistant. Both Peter and Ryan are recipients of the King’s Young Alumni Award, with Peter receiving his award in 2012 and Ryan in 2015.

-The Right Reverend William Cliff

‘89 was elected Bishop of Brandon on October 31, 2015, and moved to Manitoba after 14 years in Chaplaincy at Huron University College. He was consecrated Bishop on March 1st 2016.

<Pascal Calarco ‘91 was recently

appointed University Librarian at the University of Windsor’s Leddy Library.

He will start his new position at Windsor in April 2016. Pascal is a graduate of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Library Fellows Program from the 20132015 cohort.

Simon McNeil ‘05 travelled to China in 2005. In 2007, he got married and repatriated to Canada. In 2012 he trained for a new career and he has been working at Upper Canada College since 2013.

Simon became a father in October 2014.

m Stay in Touch Update your address and contact information to receive the latest information from your alma mater.​

Adrian Rhodes ‘94 began a new job in the front office of a charity in London, ON, as of September 2015.

www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni/

kucalumni 24 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

kucalumni

kucalumni

Milestones Michael MacDonald ‘06 published his first novel, Choose Your Own Misery: The Office Adventure, in January 2016. Prior to co-writing this humour novel, which is the first in a series of three, Michael spent four years writing for America’s Finest News Source, The Onion. He also earned a master’s degree at the London School of Economics.

Ryan Mimnagh ‘05 is in business with his father and younger brother. He is also the proud father of two beautiful girls, Isabelle (4) and Jennifer (1), with his wife Rebecca.

- Derek Chechak, BA ‘08, BSW ‘08, MSW ‘09 successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in May 2015 at Memorial University of Newfoundland and graduated October 2015.

< Ashley Siniowski (nee Ratelle) ’11

was the winner of the 2015 King’s Annual Address Update Draw. Ashley was one of 200 alumni entered into the draw after updating their contact information with the King’s Office of Alumni Affairs.

To enter into the 2016 Annual Address Update Draw, simply complete the Address Update form online at www. kings.uwo.ca/alumni and follow King’s Alumni on Facebook and Twitter for other alumni news and contests.

-Christina De Vincenzo ‘09 and Justin

Kicks were married on August 8, 2015, in London, ON, and had their photos taken at King’s! Christina works at General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada in Program Management and Justin works at Western University in the Student Development Center as a Learning Skills Counsellor.

Theresa Bailie ‘15 was selected as a Highly Commended Entrant in The Undergraduate Awards, a prestigious and international academic awards programme. Her paper, ““Peter Pan and Coraline: Gender’s Impact on Mapping Psychoanalysis onto Physical Spaces”, performed in the top 10% of all submissions in the Literature 1710-Present category. This achievement identifies Theresa as an outstanding academic at the international level.

In Memory

We extend our condolences to the friends and family of: James King ‘61 who passed away on September 6, 2015, in London, ON, after a brave struggle with dementia.

Francis Fay ‘64 who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on August 28, 2015, at Bridgepoint Hospice Care in Toronto, ON. Charlene Rijnen (nee Janes) ‘74 who passed away peacefully at her residence on August 24, 2015.

Maureen McCue ‘76 who passed away peacefully on August 3, 2015, in St. Thomas, ON

Jay Keddy ‘84 who passed away suddenly on December 2, 2015, in Hamilton, ON. Brigitte Galbraith ‘10 who passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2016, in Tamarac, Florida.

Helen Brown, associate alumna, who passed away on December 27, 2015, at Victoria Hospital in London, ON. Shelagh Donovan, associate alumna, who passed away suddenly on August 27, 2015, in Iceland.

Mike Talbot, associate alumnus, who passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2016, in Thailand.

Scott Walmsley, associate alumnus, who passed away on February, 27, 2016, surrounded by his parents.

Sue Frank, former receptionist at King’s, who passed away on March 21, 2016, peacefully with her family by her side.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 25

Honouring the life of Dr. Dante Lenardon

I

t is with great sadness that King’s University College announces the death of Professor Emeritus, Dr. Dante Lenardon on November 25, 2015.

A beloved scholar and teacher at King’s, Dr. Lenardon made an enormous difference in the lives of generations of students and colleagues.

He was among the very early faculty at King’s and spent his entire career at the College, shaping it for nearly 60 years.

Born and raised in Fernie, British Columbia, Dr. Lenardon joined the King’s community in 1957 as a professor in the Modern Languages department, where he taught French and Italian for 47 years. His students described him as an inspiring and unparalleled educator. Former student and colleague Dr. Paul Werstine says “Dr. Dante Lenardon was a great scholar and as fine and inspiring a teacher as King’s has ever had. I remember his first-year French classes from decades ago as if he had given them yesterday.”

A world-class specialist in 18th Century French, his passion for language and civilization coupled with his ability to instill in his students a love of lifelong learning led to Dr. Lenardon being the recipient of two major awards for teaching excellence. In 1990, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education named him the Canadian Professor of the Year. That same year he was the recipient of Western’s Edward G. Pleva Award of Excellence in Teaching. In 1992, his teaching legacy was honoured at King’s with the renaming of the Silverwood mansion to Dante Lenardon Hall.

Dr. Lenardon understood and lived out the value of community at King’s. In 1958, he was instrumental in forming the Italian Club. The group regularly met and it boasted the highest attendance of any club at the entire university, Western included. The regular gatherings gave faculty and students an opportunity for both intellectual discussion and cultural activities. The Club is considered by many to be one of Dr. Lenardon’s greatest contributions to forming the community spirit that is still enjoyed at King’s.

Dr. Lenardon’s death is a great loss for our community. He will be missed by those who had the pleasure of working with, and being instructed by, him. He is survived by his wife Joan, a scholar and teacher at Brescia University College and St. Peter’s Seminary, their two daughters, Julia and Paula and his niece Carmen. Dr. Lenardon was in his 92nd year at the time of his death.

“Dante Lenardon was the purest individual I’ve ever known. He was a credit to himself and his family. He was undoubtedly a credit to King’s University, and he was unequivocally a credit to our country.

I dearly wanted my grandsons to meet him – they’ve yet to meet a real Canadian hero.”

John Howard ’71 (BA French)

26 • King’s Herald • Sprng 2016

"Dante Lenardon had a special way of leaving an indelible mark on many of his students, and I was fortunate to have been one of them. He left us smarter and wiser. He made us feel better about ourselves. He’s a definition of an outstanding teacher. He will never be forgotten."

Vince Agro ‘62 Italian Club President ‘58 & ‘59

In Celebration of Joan Smith 1928-2016

O

n February 19, 2016, a memorial celebration was held at King’s to honour the life of a truly remarkable woman, Joan Smith. Joan was an important member of the King’s family.

Serving as Board Chair in the early 2000s, she helped grow and shape our community with the construction of the Cardinal Carter Library and Bessie Labatt Hall. In 2001, Joan was honored with a Doctors of Law from King’s.

Joan was a passionate, strong and caring woman who was unafraid of barriers. She was a force for good in our community; establishing a new children's mental health agency in London, Madame Vanier Children's Services, as well as supporting organizations such as the Catholic Children’s Aid Society, London Housing Authority and the United Way. Entering public service under the Peterson Liberal government, first as Party Whip, then as Ontario’s first female Solicitor General, Joan lived a life that touched many, and altered the perception of women in politics both locally and regionally.

Her commitment to community, education, and servant leadership for the common good made Joan an inspiration to her family, and also marks her legacy as an important role model for the thousands of undergraduate students who come to King’s to study, and to learn how to make a difference.

The King’s community offers sincerest condolences to the Smith family.

King’s Herald • Spring 2016 • 27

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